Ballinasloe student caught up in Brussels terror attacks

A student from Galway was among those who had to flee Zaventem Airport in Brussels this morning following a suicide bomber attack in which 13 people were killed and a further 80 were injured.

Luke Mac an Bháird from Ballinasloe was at Gate B at the airport awaiting a flight home to Ireland, when it was evacuated shortly after 7am, when a bomb exploded.

Luke Mac an Bháird

People were moved to the back of the terminal, before being told to wait on the tarmac.

He spoke of how people were “crying and very scared” and a moment of intense worry as people shouted “run”.

“As luck as I was, there were a number of people that weren’t. RIP to them and condolences to their loved ones,” he said.

Mr Mac an Bháird and other passengers were then put on a train out of Brussels as part of a lockdown in the city centre.

It’s understood there were two explosions at the airport, followed by a third at on the Metro system close to EU buildings an hour later.

The death toll has reached 34, with a further 151 injured, 10 of them in a critical condition.

If you are concerned about any Irish citizen in Brussels, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01 4082000